The cocotte originated in France where this casserole dish was designed to cook chicken dishes: in fact, the word "cocotte" itself is the French word for "little hen". Since then, however, the cocotte cast iron Dutch oven dish has been used to make a wide variety of other dishes by chefs and home cooks including soups, stews, pot roasts, and ragouts as well as for perfecting sauces. Beginners can use them as they try their hand at tasty oven-baked dishes and professional French chefs can't do without them for gratins or delicate soufflés. This particular cocotte comes in the delightful color of Sorbet Rose, adding a hint of elegance when presenting food at the table. It is round and has a diameter of 24cm. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, cast iron is an excellent heat retainer and is good at distributing heat equally, characteristics which are enhanced by Staub's special matte black enamel. The durable bottom of the enameled cast iron Dutch oven can serve as a pan for searing food before slow cooking or adding to the oven, making this an incredibly versatile model. This enamel also helps preserve a food's unique flavor. Since a cocotte retains heat well, meat and vegetables can be cooked gently whilst preserving both flavor and nutritional content. It is, therefore, perfect for cooking healthy meals. Its specially designed lid also releases condensation at regular intervals, keeping meat wonderfully succulent. Staub is known worldwide for making the best Dutch ovens which can be used for a wide variety of uses. With the Staub cocotte, you can treat yourself and your guests to beautifully tender meat and delicious-tasting vegetables at any time.